Aliran deeply regrets Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's recent threat to all government servants who "oppose the Government." He suggested that these civil servants should resign or face disciplinary action.

His statement has wider repercussions on society. For one, it reflects a poor understanding of or a dangerous refusal to appreciate the principles and the workings of a democracy. Civil servants are expected to perform professionally and efficiently in discharging their duties irrespective of which political party is in power. They should not be partisan in the carrying out their duties. But that does not mean they have to embrace hook, line, and sinker the political ideology of the government of the day. In short, civil servants should not think, behave and react like unthinking zombies.

In a democracy, citizens - whether they are government servants or private sector workers - should have the freedom to adhere to any political philosophy in their private lives, to associate with any political group, to attend any political gathering, and to read any political literature of their own choice. If these options are denied to civil servants, then thinking Malaysians would have good reason to wonder if we are truly a democratic society or merely pretending to be one.

Abdullah’s directive to government department heads to monitor the activities of their subordinates is dangerous as it is Orwellian in essence. Given the political pressure exerted on departmental heads, it is quite likely that many of them will be overzealous in implementing this directive, thereby further curbing the civil liberties of civil servants.

Aliran urges Abdullah and other members of the Federal Cabinet to halt these undemocratic moves during these trying political times. A government that professes to be democratic and fair must play the political game according to universally accepted ground rules.